Over the past winter the EA spent a record £10m on vital repairs and improvements to sites, structures and services, such as locks, moorings, toilets and fresh water points. It currently spends in total around £18m a year keeping 1,000km of waterway open for business, but says that it does not have big enough coffers to do everything.

The EA needs to find new sources of funding and make hard choices on how it spends what monies it has; also to look at all the things it does and to ensure it is providing value for money

As well as boaters, the EA wants to encourage all users of its waterways - from towpath walkers and anglers to people who live beside navigable rivers - and indeed anyone else with an interest in inland waterways - to encourage them to take part in the study.

‘Everyone who uses our rivers will have opinions about what is working and what needs improving – and we want to hear them through this survey,’ said national navigation manager Stuart Taylor. ‘The feedback will be invaluable in helping us decide our funding priorities for the long-term.’

Further information and copies of the Navigation Funding Strategy Customer Research Project are on www.environment-agency.gov.uk/navigation

An online discussion forum has also been set up for people to air and share views about inland waterway issues and is on the same section of this EA website. Access to both the survey and the forum requires a username and password: EA boaters already have their details.

Others wishing to take part just e-mail Ipsos MORI at navigation@ipsos-mori.com for a username and password. Hard copies of the survey can be obtained by calling 020 7347 3000.

The closing date for the survey and the forum is September 7, 2007.

Responses will then be considered during the drafting of a Navigation Funding Strategy. The final strategy goes to the EA board in November and the survey findings will be published on the EA website.